The Peace Puzzle: America's Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989–2011

The Peace Puzzle: America's Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace, 1989-2011 is a powerful compilation of case studies examining the history of the Middle East peace process and the specific components of US involvement. Authors Daniel Kurtzer, Scott Lasensky and others highlight three significant US-assisted breakthroughs in the peace process between 1973 and 1991, but then focus on why there has been no significant breakthrough in the last two decades.The case studies are as follows:1. Bush 41 to Clinton - examining this presidential transition, we gain a view into how the successful 1991 Madrid Peace Conference that enabled direct negotiations involving a wide range of players was allowed to lapse into diminished American involvement.2. Israeli-Syrian track during the 1990s - here, the book examines why this dimension of the peace process took precedence for the US, the value of Yitzak Rabin giving the diplomatic gift of communicating their bottom line, and how ultimately the opportunity for peace was squandered.3. Failed Camp David summit in 2000 - with Clinton, Arafat and Ehud Barak convened in the last year of Clinton's presidency, momentum was present but the American team was woefully unprepared on critical issues such as Jerusalem and the seeming collusion between Clinton and Barak isolated Arafat into non-agreement and ultimate failure.4. Bush 43 in his first term - as he takes office, a decade of violence in the Middle East begins with fervor, and the US focus for international affairs soon turns to Al Queda, Iraq and Afghanistan. Significant here is US presidential support, for the first time, of the creation of a Palestinian state.5. Bush 43's second term - even as Condoleezza Rice created an emphasis on re-engaging a Mid-East peace process, Bush's administration was not one that believed in peace-making and diplomacy, as evidenced by the emphasis on instituting democracy and the disjointed skeptics with varying agendas throughout the White House, State and DoD. The Annapolis 2007 meeting and other efforts during this term put the US specifically on the sideline and did not take advantage of past lessons learned.6. An early look at Obama - Including the peace process in campaign promises and the early days of his Administration was a stark contrast to past presidents who tried too little, too late. However the first assessments are that a lack of strategic direction from the US is resulting in little focus and little results.A dense primer in the complexity of a hot region, and the ever important role of the US, this book leaves the reader with a reticent hope that the way is there, if the will could only be found.

This is a well written and very readable and well-documented description of the challenges, successes, failures, and reasons why of the US involvement with the Arab-Israeli peace process during the years 1989-2011. What could have been esoteric and stilted is, in fact, enlightening, fascinating, and, thought-provoking. After reading about actions and behaviors of the players involved, I wanted to both shake each of them and sit down with a drink. What increases understanding can also increase frustration with the overall "peace" process. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the hows and whys of these negotiations. Kudos to each of the authors involved for his ability to communicate with ease and objectivity.

Relevant book for my paper.

This excellent book provides a deep and critical analysis of US peace mediation between Israel and the Palestinians. It is candid and thorough, thoughtful and incisive. The book traces US successes and failures in mediation, probing the policies of Henry Kissinger, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W.H. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. The book objectively explains the events that took place from the 1989 Yitzhak Shamir Plan to the involvement of Obama in Middle Eastern affairs. The book is simply a must for anyone who wishes to understand why, despite the huge investment of the United States in establishing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, both sides are still yearning for peace. Future mediators need to read this sharp book carefully before they engage in such an important task of resolving the thorny Israeli-Palestinian conflict.